Only 55 MC12s were built, with 50 ending up in the hands of private owners. Though the looks of the MC12 are reminiscent of the Enzo, the Maserati is longer, wider and taller than its cousin. The Enzo was the faster of the two cars as well, something that was surely mandated by Maranello.
Now that Ferrari has announced its latest supercar, the LaFerrari, Car Magazine reports that Maserati will build its own supercar variant using the LaFerrari as a starting point. The biggest mystery is what powertrain the Maserati will use, though word is that it will stick with a conventional, non-hybrid drivetrain.
If Maserati uses the LaFerrari’s 6.3-liter V-12, expect the engine to be tuned for less horsepower and more torque, since the car won’t benefit from supplemental electric power.
If Maserati goes it’s own way, the car could sport a multi-turbo version of the Quattroporte’s 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8. Speculation is that Maserati could mount up another pair of turbochargers to boost output from the current 523 horsepower to as much as 900 horsepower.
Since the Maserati will lack the hybrid drivetrain components of the LaFerrari, it will likely come to market with a lower curb weight. As with the MC12, however, Maranello will likely set standards for the Maserati’s performance, so you can expect to see slower acceleration, a lower top speed and even higher emissions from the Maserati.
As before, the Maserati will be produced in much smaller quantities than the LaFerrari, justifying a comparable selling price despite lower performance. Word is that just 50 will be built, compared to 499 LaFerraris, all of which have reportedly been snapped up by willing buyers.
What’s your take on this? Will the profit derived from additional Maserati sales help Ferrari justify the development cost of the LaFerrari, or is a second Italian supercar just too much of a good thing? For equal money, would you rather have a hybrid LaFerrari or a conventional Maserati parked in your stable?